Audi vs BMW diesel engines
Discussion
I have been an Audi man for several years now after having bad experiences with BMW reliability.
I'm coming up to car change time and I find myself looking at BMWs again.
Why is it that 2 litre 170 Audi engines get 48.7 mpg and 8.2 secs to 60, and BMW get 60.1 mpg and also faster at 7.5 secs to 60.
How do BMW get significantly better economy whilst also being faster?
I should note I have referenced combined mpg figures as most of my miles is motorway with a heavy foot.
I'm coming up to car change time and I find myself looking at BMWs again.
Why is it that 2 litre 170 Audi engines get 48.7 mpg and 8.2 secs to 60, and BMW get 60.1 mpg and also faster at 7.5 secs to 60.
How do BMW get significantly better economy whilst also being faster?
I should note I have referenced combined mpg figures as most of my miles is motorway with a heavy foot.
Lots of possible reasons. Gearing, aerodynamics etc
My "gut" (and I accept the unscientificness of that) is that BMW are more of an "engine" company than Audi who are more about the other areas of the car. i.e BMW focus on the Engine the most. (Much like Honda for example) Audi focus on their aluminum build areas or their high end interiors
My "gut" (and I accept the unscientificness of that) is that BMW are more of an "engine" company than Audi who are more about the other areas of the car. i.e BMW focus on the Engine the most. (Much like Honda for example) Audi focus on their aluminum build areas or their high end interiors
rhinochopig said:
You'll never get either of those figures in reality if they're manuf. figures. Look on the owner websites for real MPG and work from there.
Yes they are both manu figures and therefore i am comparing like for like. I'm not looking for real world figures here. More a reason why BMW is apparently supperior to Audi?Edited by rhinochopig on Saturday 2nd June 18:53
Whats the snag? Do they still suffer reliability issues?
NelsonR32 said:
What model Audi are you looking at? If it's a 170bhp I guess it's an A3..? Even so, the "euro" 0-62 and MPG are much higher than the figures you claim?
Audi A3 S line 2.0 TDI 170 and
BMW 120d 177
(in reality I am actually looking at a 3 series coupe with the above engine, or the A3 S line)
I know the accruals won't be as good as claimed, but even if they are both a second slower and 5 mpg worse off, the BMW will still be ahead...
I've owned numerous Audi and BMW diesels over the years and in my experience - you will be about 5-8 mpg under the Audi figure and not far off the BMW official figure.
BMW's right now have the most powerful, cleanest and most efficient diesel engines bar none.
Wouldn't buy another Audi at the moment, IMO they are now bland, have a poor ride and the engines are off the pace.
BMW's right now have the most powerful, cleanest and most efficient diesel engines bar none.
Wouldn't buy another Audi at the moment, IMO they are now bland, have a poor ride and the engines are off the pace.
NelsonR32 said:
What model Audi are you looking at? If it's a 170bhp I guess it's an A3..? Even so, the "euro" 0-62 and MPG are much higher than the figures you claim?
Really would like to know how you "guessed" that . Anyway I have it in my passat estate, 45mpg is easily done with a heavy foot . My friends has a auto, 530d saloon ( probably bigger car )and I know he is getting around 25mpg in town where's mine is a minimum of 30mpg in C.London frosted said:
NelsonR32 said:
What model Audi are you looking at? If it's a 170bhp I guess it's an A3..? Even so, the "euro" 0-62 and MPG are much higher than the figures you claim?
Really would like to know how you "guessed" that . Anyway I have it in my passat estate, 45mpg is easily done with a heavy foot . My friends has a auto, 530d saloon ( probably bigger car )and I know he is getting around 25mpg in town where's mine is a minimum of 30mpg in C.London 2.0 4 cyl - 3.0 6 cyl
BE57 TOY said:
Yes they are both manu figures and therefore i am comparing like for like. I'm not looking for real world figures here. More a reason why BMW is apparently supperior to Audi?
Whats the snag? Do they still suffer reliability issues?
I would imagine they are better than Audi at setting up a car to score well on the fuel economy tests. Hence I'd look for real world MPG. It's like these daft hybrids doing 120+mpg because the test lasts for x simulated miles and the battery will last for 90% of these miles so not requiring the IC engine.Whats the snag? Do they still suffer reliability issues?
frosted said:
NelsonR32 said:
What model Audi are you looking at? If it's a 170bhp I guess it's an A3..? Even so, the "euro" 0-62 and MPG are much higher than the figures you claim?
Really would like to know how you "guessed" that . Anyway I have it in my passat estate, 45mpg is easily done with a heavy foot . My friends has a auto, 530d saloon ( probably bigger car )and I know he is getting around 25mpg in town where's mine is a minimum of 30mpg in C.London 
Back On Topic: The 0-62 on an A3 170bhp manual is 8.0 seconds exactly and combined MPG just a shade over 60mpg. The MPG is a euro figure so expect nearer 50mpg in real life.
NelsonR32 said:
Erm, because the only 170 engine left in the range is in the A3 and TT? I know VW, SEAT and Skoda owners have a chip on their shoulders but an Audi they are not
Back On Topic: The 0-62 on an A3 170bhp manual is 8.0 seconds exactly and combined MPG just a shade over 60mpg. The MPG is a euro figure so expect nearer 50mpg in real life.
Book figure is 8.2 seconds and 48.7 mpg for the 170. Back On Topic: The 0-62 on an A3 170bhp manual is 8.0 seconds exactly and combined MPG just a shade over 60mpg. The MPG is a euro figure so expect nearer 50mpg in real life.
The Audi engine with 60 mpg is the 1.9 TDIe but that's only a 105 bhp.
Rich_W said:
My "gut" (and I accept the unscientificness of that) is that BMW are more of an "engine" company than Audi who are more about the other areas of the car. i.e BMW focus on the Engine the most. (Much like Honda for example) Audi focus on their aluminum build areas or their high end interiors
Thats pretty much how i view things 
Do both have stop/start technology, or just the BMW? Is the BMW notably lighter than the Audi? Does the fact it's RWD aid perhaps aid it's acceleration compared with a FWD/quattro Audi? How do their top speeds compare?
Perhaps the BMW gets to 62 with only one gearchange and the Audi needs two (or two vs. three), hence the on-paper sprint advantage. Yet also employs taller intermediate/higher gears mean better economy when not using max performance.
Perhaps the BMW gets to 62 with only one gearchange and the Audi needs two (or two vs. three), hence the on-paper sprint advantage. Yet also employs taller intermediate/higher gears mean better economy when not using max performance.
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